Final Thoughts: My Unexpected Journey

Wow, the end of what I thought to be an unrealistic undertaking. Reading through Tolkien's Middle-earth in chronological fashion. Many times I found myself figure out late in the game when I was going to read what and even then I made some mistakes along the way. The mythology of Middle-earth is immense. And fantastic. And life-changing. I had always been intrigues my Tolkien's thoughts on the applicability of his writing and because of that I kept my eyes open along the way for what I thought might be applicable to my life. I thought I might find something. I found a lot. Wise words for wise living. Hope and strength to fight the battles in my life. Reflections on how I am doing as a husband, father, and friend. Encouragement, over and over again, to my faith.

Don't get me wrong--I love Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, Dragons, Hero's, Wizard's, Ringwraiths, Orcs, Skin-Changers, Bombadil's, Eagles, Ents, Valar, etc. I love all of the epic battles, quests, and adventures. I love the cool languages and depths that make Middle-earth feel like some forgotten history. I love that noblity and honor are codes of conduct. I love the fantasy nature of this story. But I found it truer to life than most of what I read. I think you'll find it speaks to the depths of your experiences as well. It is a timeless tale full of applicability for all who read no matter your background or worldview. Thank you Professor Tolkien. Read on my friends.

I just finished 365 posts for 2013. One for each day in my chronological read. I will now list my top ten posts from this past year and a little synopsis of why:

1. Faerie Stories & Middle-earth: An Introduction (here) -- This post set the stage for my entire blog. It was the 1st time I had read Tolkien's essay on Faerie Stories; it was powerful and a great encouragement in my faith in Christ. I also looked at the introduction of The Lord of the Rings in order to deepen my understanding of applicability. After these two reads I am confident that my own thoughts interspersed through this blog are my application of reading Tolkien's work. 
2. The Battle of Unnumbered Tears (here) -- Perhaps the most epic battle in Middle-earth. So many twists and turns and characters. Hands down, the actions of Húrin in this story provided for me the most lucid moment of clarity and applicability it my life. In my personal struggles I will often think of this story and cry out in my heart: Aure Entuluva!
3. The Debate of Finrod and Andreth (here and here) -- This was a fascinating post. This was the 1st year I incorporated some small readings from The Histories of Middle-earth which I had never read before. This story was a gem of Silmaril value. A discussion on the nature of Elves and Men between an Elf and a woman. Lots of thought provoking words. The description of hope (elessar) is beautiful. 
4. The Red Book (here) -- What I enjoy most about Tolkien's work is that it truly does read like a history (which has always been my favorite subject). I enjoy this post because it ties together, from several writings, what the Red Book is and how this important "historical" document came to be. It even allowed for some of my own speculation which is always amusing.
5. The Battle of Pelennor Fields (here) -- I am a sucker for the battles. But this one has so many intimate moments I finds myself in tears every time I read it (or see it on screen). Eowyn's defense of Theoden's gets me every time. One of my favorite readings in all of Middle-earth. 
6. The Oats of Cirion and Eorl (here) -- This may sound strange but I love how the men in Tolkien's writings act like men. Here we see the leaders of two people's (Gondor and Rohan as it will be) declaring support for one another's countries in times of need. Even better: we'll read that this oath is fulfilled time and time again in the next 500 years. Men of honor, speaking words of honor, and acting in honor. Love it. 
7. In the Beginning (here) -- "There was Eru, the One..." (p. 15, The Silmarillion) and thus I began my plunge into Middle-earth for the next year. This is a really cool writing on the creation of Middle-earth. Very biblical in its scope as well. 
8. Beorn (here) -- Beorn, a skin-changer, is a fascinating character. However, the real reason why this is one of my favorite posts is Gandalf. I can't say enough about the Grey Wizard but this story just incapsulates him to me. The way he guides the Dwarves into the presence of this unpredictably skin-changer is all at once brilliant, hilarious, cunning, executed perfectly, and wise. Maybe I forgot an adjective or two. It's just Gandalf and it's perfect. 
9. Black Riders and High Elves (here) -- I enjoyed this reading because it is one of the more intense, nail-biting, parts in the story as Frodo leaves the Shire with Ringwraith's on his trail. But it also contains, in a small way, one of Tolkien's many euchatastrophe's--that unlooked for hope and joy; as when Frodo unexpectedly meets some High Elves on the way. 
10. Thror and Azog (here) -- Many of the top-ten posts lean toward the deeper end of things. Not this one. Purely epic. In fact, this post is mostly direct quote from Tolkien. They don't call Azog the Defiler for nothing.

If you've read your way through this blog perhaps let me know what some of your favorite posts were. Or at the very least your favorite Tolkien passages. 

As for 2014 my plan is to keep the posts coming. Although not one a day. My goal for 2014 is to read the Histories of Middle-earth in their entirety. I've just now received my last couple of missing books. 12 volumes--one for each month. My tentative plan is for one post a week--as the bulk of this reading will be completely new and challenging for me. But, I hopeful I'll find a few more bits and pieces that I can add into future chronological reads. 

May 2014 bring you Elves and Dwarves, peace and joy, and euchatastrophe's of great significance. 

A New Shadow

Some time after The Lord of the Rings Tolkien turned his attention back to the Fourth Age, of which very little is written. He began a story, The New Shadow, that took place in the days of Eldarion son of Aragorn. It was a time of peace but Men were growing restless. Indeed, Tolkien discusses part of the inspiration of the story is man's "quick satiety with good" (p. 410, The People's of Middle-Earth). Reminds of of the human heart with God. The story involves two men Borlas, youngest son of Beregond, but now very old and Saelon, a young man who had been friends with Borlas' son. They are sitting in Borlas' garden when Borlas says to himself: "'Deep indeed run the roots of Evil,' said Borlas, 'and the black sap is strong in them. That tree will never be slain. Let me hew it as often as they may, it will thrust up its shoots again as soon as they turn aside. Not even at the Feast of Felling should the axe be hung upon the wall!' (p. 411, The Peoples of Middle-earth).

This caught Saelon's attention and began a tense conversation. Saelon confessed how he had been, it seems, rather infatuated with Orcs since Borlas had rebuked him long ago for destroying unripe apples from the garden--as the old man had said, it was Orc's work. Borlas was unsettled by Saelon's words and offered an apology: "'Alas!' he said, 'we all make mistakes. I do not claim wisdom, young man, except maybe the little that one may gleam with the passing of years. From which I know well enough the sad truth that those who mean well may do more harm than those who let things be. I am sorry now for what I said, if it roused hate in your heart'" (p. 412, The Peoples of Middle-earth).

They debated Man's role with nature--hewing and burning and consumption of it. Again Borlas answers wisely: "'The evils of the world were not at first in the great Theme, but entered with the discords of Melkor. Men did not come with these discords; they entered afterwards as a new thing direct from Eru, the One, and therefore are called His children, and all that was in the Theme they have, for their own good, the right to use - rightly, without pride or wantonness, but with reverence'" (p. 413, The Peoples of Middle-earth).

Saelon turned the conversation back to Borlas' first thought--the Evil tree that could not be slain. "His voice sank low and could scarcely be heard above the murmur of a sudden chill wind in the leaves, as the sun sank behind the Mindolluin. 'You have heard then the name?' With hardly more than breath he formed it. 'Of Herumor?'" (p. 414, The Peoples of Middle-earth). That name left Borlas speechless. Saelon wondered how Borlas could know of such a cunning secret; he went on to tell how not all were content since Aragorn died and those that heard the call of that name were growing.

The two men went back and forth trying to determine how the other knew of Herumor and how much did he know. Finally Borlas turned to go into his home since the conversation was going nowhere. Saelon then invited Borlas to journey with him, during the full night, clad in black, to if he wished to know more. Borlas was left to himself reflecting on how the conversation even came to be. Rumors had been spreading across Gondor told to him by his son Berelech and his friends Othrondir and Saelon--it was these the old man had been reflecting on and spoke aloud to himself with Saelon sitting near.

Borlas replayed to conversation with Saelon, really the only one who checked on his well being while his son served in the navy, trying to determine if he was involved in this new shadow growing. Borlas thought it useless that he go with Saelon--useless because he would never convert and useless because even if he did convert Borlas was too old to do anything. Then it dawned on him it would be better if he were out of the way. He resolved to meet Saelon come what may. He walked toward his house to ready himself thinking:

"'Perhaps I have been preserved so long for this purpose: that one should still live, hale in mind, who remembers what went before the Great Peace. Scent has a long memory. I think I could still smell the old Evil, and know it for what it is.' The door under the porch was open; but the house behind was darkling. There seemed none of the accustomed sounds of evening, only a soft silence, a dead silence. He entered, wondering a little. He called, but there was no answer. He halted in the narrow passage that ran through the house, and it seemed that he was wrapped in a blackness: not a glimmer of twilight of the world outside remained there. Suddenly he smelt it, or so it seemed, though it came as it were from within outwards to the sense: he smelt the old Evil and knew it for what it was" (p. 418, The Peoples of Middle-earth).

Wow. Thus concludes J.R.R. Tolkien's last writings on Middle-earth. A new shadow is rising though we will never know who or what this shadow is. But after reading chronological history of Middle-earth I am confident that there will be people who will bear the burden and fight the long defeat for the good of all. Just like in our world today, though evil is ever present there are men and women across the world who stand up to it. I personally love that about Tolkien's writing--characters full of nobility and honor who stand up to evil because it is the right thing to do.

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age, circa 220
Today's reading comes from: The People's of Middle-earth, pages 410-418

Frodo's Dreme

This is actually one of the many poems from The Tolkien Reader which are attributed to the Red Book. The poem is entitled The Sea-Bell but it is noted that at the top, hand-scrawled, is Frodo's Dreme. "That is remarkable, and though the piece is most unlikely to have been written by Frodo himself, the title shows that is was associated with the dark and despairing dreams which visited him in March and October during his last three years" (p. 194, The Tolkien Reader).

It is a dark poem indeed. The author is searching, it seems for peace, and ever it evades him. The last stanza's end like this:
"Never again, as in sad lane, in blind alley and in long street
ragged I walk. To myself I talk; for still they speak not, men that I meet" (p. 247, The Tolkien Reader).

Perhaps this was hobbit lore surrounding Frodo or maybe he described his dreams in detail. Either way it's a fitting last reference to Frodo who walked a dark road but, even so, came as he could.

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age
Today's reading comes from: The Tolkien Reader, pages 194 and 244-247

The Red Book

I'd like to take a look at where these histories and legends of Middle-earth came from. Tolkien wrote this story as a history. History comes about by historians, historical documents, and oral traditions. I'll explore those sources in this post.

Hobbits became rather interested in the world around them after the downfall of Sauron. Suddenly, the Shire was a well-known and well-received region of Aragorn's kingdom. "By the end of the first century of the Fourth Age there were already to be found in the Shire several libraries that contained many historical books and records" (p. 23, The Fellowship of the Ring). The major source of historical material in the Shire was the Red Book of Westmarch. "It was in origin Bilbo's private diary, which he took with him to Rivendell" (p. 23, The Fellowship of the Ring). Bilbo's writings consisted of what we know as The Hobbit, poetry he enjoyed and created, translations of the Elvish language and "The ancient legends of the First Age, in which Bilbo's chief interest lay..." (p. 313, The Return of the King). The translations of Elvish and legends of the First Age make sense given Bilbo spent his final years in Middle-earth in Rivendell with Elrond, Glorfindel, and other ancient Elves of much lore.

Bilbo gave Frodo his book to record his own adventure. "Frodo brought it back to the Shire, together with many loose leaves of notes, and during S.R. 1420-1 he nearly filled its pages with his account of the War" (p. 23, The Fellowship of the Ring). The S.R. stands for Shire Reckoning and corresponds with Third Age 3020-21. When it was completed it was bound in red leather (hence the name Red Book) in four volumes along with a fifth concerning records and genealogies of the Shire as well as information concerning various members of the Fellowship of the Ring. Since Frodo gave the book to Sam when he left Middle-earth. It is likely that Sam put together much of the remaining information. The original Red Book was lost but many copies were made for Sam's many descendents (he and Rose had thirteen children--wow).

However, a most important copy survived. "It was kept in the Great Smials, but it was written in Gondor, probably at the request of the great-grandson of Peregrin, and completed in S.R. 1592 (F.A. 172). Its southern scribe appended this note: Findegil, King's Writer, finished this work in IV 172" (p. 23-24, The Fellowship of the Ring). F.A. coincides with Fourth Age 172 one of the latest historical dates of Tolkien's Middle-earth. Aragorn had requested a copy of the Red Book and Pippin brought it to him in Fourth Age 64 when he and Merry came to Gondor in the last years of their lives. Information concerning Dwarves in these histories were "...probably derived from Gimli the Dwarf, who maintained his friendship with Peregrin and Meriadoc and met them again many times in Gondor and Rohan" (p. 313, The Return of the King).

In Gondor mostly corrections were made but the tale of Aragorn and Arwen was added to the copy of the Red Book, at least in part. "The full tale is said to have been written by Barahir, grandson of the Steward Faramir, some time after the passing of the King. But the chief importance of Findegil's copy is that it alone contains the whole of Bilbo's 'Translations from the Elvish'" (p. 24, The Fellowship of the Ring). Although not explicitly apart of the Red Book Merry also added some interesting information. Merry compiled histories of Rohan (given Rohan's long years of alliance and friendship with Gondor it is not likely such information came from Merry), Herblore of the Shire, Reckoning of Years, and Old Words and Names in the Shire. His Reckoning notes sought to reconcile the Shire Calendar with those of other people, and his Old Words book investigated the relation of hobbit vocabulary to other languages. Pippin, given his connection with Gondor, compiled the only records in the Shire concerning the Second Age: focused on the Númenoreans and the rise of Sauron.

Indeed the Tale of Years (from which I highlighted portions at the end of Ages Two, Three, and Four) was most likely written by Merry with assistance from Rivendell where he would visit. "There, though Elrond had departed, his sons long remained, together with some of the High-elven folk. It is said that Celeborn went to dwell there after the departure of Galadriel; but there is no record of the day when he sought the Grey Havens, and with him went the last living memory of the Elder Days in Middle-earth" (p. 25, The Fellowship of the Ring).

I love the notion of how this history, albeit feigned, came together. Bilbo living in Rivendell with Elrond and many other ancient Elves recording his adventure, Elvish language, and legends from the First Age given his interest in the Elves (with some poetry dabbled in there as well). Frodo recording the his quest in detail. Sam keeping tabs of the Fellowship after Frodo's departure. The history of Rohan added by Merry and his close association with those people. Much of the Second Age information is Númenorean centric, which makes sense since that's Aragorn's ancestor's and claim to the throne. So given Pippen's close ties to Gondor I see where that information may have from. It all fits beautifully together. You can see how these legends, myths, and histories were passed down from Age to Age to finally be recorded in the Red Book. And the fact that much of it may have been through hobbit eyes--perhaps that has give Peter Jackson some latitude in his movie adaptation of The Hobbit?

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age, 172
Today's reading comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 23-24; The Return of the King, page 313; The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 24-25

Fourth Age Timeline

Here are a few important dates attributed to the Fourth Age; mostly happenings concerning members of the Fellowship of the Ring:

• 5, Sam becomes mayor of the Shire and Pippin gets married. "King Elessar issues an edict that Men are not to enter the Shire, and he makes it a Free Land under the protection of the Northern Sceptre" (p. 377, The Return of the King). 
• 8, "Faramir, son of Peregrin, born" (p. 377, The Return of the King)
• 9, "Goldilocks, daughter of Samwise, born"(p. 377, The Return of the King)
• 10, Merry becomes the Master of Buckland; Eomer and Eowyn send gifts
• 12, Pippin become Thain--head of the Took clan. "King Elessar makes the Thain, Master, and the Mayor Counsellors of the North-kingdom. Master Samwise is elected mayor for the second time" (p. 377, The Return of the King)
• 14, Aragorn visits the Shire but does not enter, of course. 
• 19, Sam elected Mayor again. 
• 26, Sam elected Mayor for the fourth time
• 30, Aragorn gifts Westmarch of the Far Downs to the Shire (Sam's daughter Elanor had married Fastred of that region)
• 33, Sam elected Mayor for the fifth time
• 40, Sam elected Mayor for the sixth time
• 41, "Faramir Took marries Goldilocks, daughter of Samwise" (p. 378, The Return of the King)
• 47, Sam elected Mayor for the final time being 96 years old at the end of his term
• 60, "Death of Mistress Rose, wife of Master Samwise, on Mid-year's Day. On September 22 Master Samwise rides out from Bag End. He comes to the Tower Hills, and is last seen by Elanor, to whom he gives the Red Book afterwords kept by the Fairbairns. Among them the tradition is handed down from Elanor that Samwise passed the Towers, and went to the Grey Havens, and passed over the Sea, last of the Ring-bearers" (p. 378, The Return of the King)
• 62, King Eomer became ill and called for Merry. He and Pippin left the Shire, never to return, and visited him before he died. They then went to Gondor and remained their until their deaths. 
• 120, "In this year on March 1st came at last the Passing of King Elessar. It is said that the beds of Meriadoc and Peregrin were set beside the bed of the great king. Then Legolas built a grey ship in Ithilien, and sailed down Anduin and so over the Sea; and with him, it is said, went Gimli the Dwarf. And when that ship passed an end was come in Middle-earth of the Fellowship of the Ring" (p. 378, The Return of the King)

Middle-earth timeline: Fourth Age, 5-120

Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 377-378

Of Languages

Here are some highlights concerning spoken language in Middle-earth:

• By the time of the War of the Ring (3018 Third Age) nearly all races used the Westron or Common Speech exclusively, save the Elves. Even folks like the Wild Men of Drúadan who spoke their own language could use the Common Speech as a secondary language. 
• There were two types of Elvish language: Quenya which was the high tongue spoken beyond the Sea and used only in ritual in Middle-earth. Sindarin was originally spoken by the Elves who did not go to Valinor. By the time the Exiles had returned to Middle-earth the two tongues were sundered. Yet the Sindarin tongue was adopted by the Exiles. "Noblest of all was the Lady Galadriel of the royal house of Finarfin and sister of Finrod Felagund, King of Nargothrond" (p. 406, The Return of the King). 
• The Common Speech was spoken by Men, in particular of the Three Houses that aided the Elves against Melkor in the First Age. These Men, who had learned the Elven tongues out of reverence, were given Númenor and their speech, Adunaic, was influenced by the Elves. The Sea-kings established colonies in Middle-earth. "There Adunaic was spoken, and mingled with many words of the languages of lesser men it became a Common Speech that spread thence along the coasts among all that had dealings with Westernesse" (p. 407, The Return of the King). 
• Hobbits adopted the Common Speech and there is no record of any language native to their kind.  It seems they adopted the speech of the Big Folk they lived near. This perhaps explains why some of the language the Rohirrim was recognizable to the hobbits. For example holbytla meaning 'hole-builder' which King Theoden and others of Rohan called Merry. 
• At the end of the Third Age the Ents were the most ancient people in Middle-earth. "They were known to the Eldar in the ancient days, and to the Eldar indeed the Ents ascribed not their own language but the desire for speech. The language that they had made was unlike all others: slow, sonorous, agglomerated, repetittive, indeed long-winded..." (p. 409, The Return of the King). 
• Orcs also had there own manner of speech but none of it was original. "It is said they had no language of their own, but took what they could of other tongues and perverted it to their own liking; yet they made only brutal jargons, scarcely sufficient even for their own needs, unless it were for curses and abuse" (p. 409, The Return of the King). 
• Sauron created the Black Speech and some words were adopted by Orcs.
• During the War of the Ring a new kind Orc appeared in Mirkwood and Mordor. They were bred by Sauron. "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race, strong, agile, fierce and cunning, but harder than stone. Unlike the older race of the Twilight they could endure the Sun, so long as the will of Sauron held sway over them. They spoke little, and the only tongue that they knew was the Black Speech of Barad-dur" (p. 410, The Return of the King).
• Dwarves had their own language. "Yet in secret (a secret in which unlike the Elves, they did not unwillingly unlock, even to their friends) they used their own strange tongue, changed little by the years; for it had become a tongue of lore rather than a cradle-speech, and they tended it and guarded it as a treasure of the past" (p. 410, The Return of the King). They would not even reveal their true Dwarvish names to anyone. "Not even on their tombs do they inscribe them" (p. 411, The Return of the King).
• There was one Dwarvish saying that was well-known and well-translated across Middle-earth: "Baruk Khazad! Khazad aimenu! 'Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!'" (p. 411, The Return of the King).

Middle-earth timeline: End of Third Age-Beginning of Fourth Age

Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, page 405-416

Of Writing

Here are some highlights concerning written language in Middle-earth:

• "The scripts and letters used in the Third Age were all ultimately of Eldarin origin, and already at that time of great antiquity" (p. 395, The Return of the King). This is Tolkien's bread and butter: language. 
• There were two main forms of writing: Tengwar or letters and Cirth or runes.
• Tengwar was created by the Noldor; the oldest form was made by Rumil. The most common form was created by Fëanor. "They were brought to Middle-earth by the exiled Noldor, and so became known to the Edain and Númenoreans" (p. 395, The Return of the King). 
• Cirth was created by the Sindar, those Elves that had not traveled to the Blessed Lands. Men, Dwarves, and Orcs fashioned much of their own writings from this style. 
• "Their richest and most ordered form was known as the Alphabet of Daeron, since in Elvish tradition it was said to have been devised by Daeron, the minstrel and loremaster of King Thingol of Doriath" (p. 397, The Return of the King). 

Middle-earth timeline: End of Third Age-Beginning of Fourth

Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 395-416